CO.STARTERS Graduates

Every time you spend $10 at a locally owned store, anywhere from $4 to $7 re-circulates in your local economy. That’s $1 to $6 MORE than if that same $10 was spent at a big retailer.

Since Create Birmingham launched CO.STARTERS in 2014, 200 entrepreneurs have graduated from the program. Many have gone on to launch successful businesses, from brick-and-mortar shops to food tours, and earn local and regional press praise for their success. Get to know them. Get to know their businesses.

“CO.STARTERS was an incredibly beneficial experience. It forces you to answer the tough questions sooner versus later when the stakes can be much higher. It also takes a unique perspective on business development, addressing the personal and professional aspects of business ownership.”

Kristen Farmer Hall, The Essential

“For me, it’s just getting out there and really getting to test your assumptions. Do I have a viable product to put out to the market? You really get to test that and you get to meet people and talk to people. It forces you out there and you find out what people like and what they don’t like. What you need to change, what you need to add. I think every small business owner needs to go through CO.STARTERS. Now I really know the direction I want to take with Eugene’s Hot Chicken.”

Zebbie Carney, Eugene’s Hot Chicken